‘Hits like a f---ing hammer’: Ex-NRL star Josh Dugan’s shock code switch

Ex-NRL player Josh Dugan revealed a surprise code switch on Saturday night. Find out how the former Australian Kangaroos and NSW Blues star fared in his new sport.

Far North Queensland Rugby League will host the A grade mens grand final match this Saturday. Ivanhoe Knights A grade captain Josh Dugan and Cairns Brothers A grade captain Jordan Biondi-Odo will do battle for premiership glory at Barlow Park on Saturday. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ex-NRL star Josh Dugan revealed a surprise code switch on Saturday night, suiting up at linebacker for the Cairns Falcons in a thrilling 28-26 triumph over Townsville in the Regional Queensland Gridiron League.

The 34-year-old Canberran had a decorated rugby league career that included 215 NRL games to go with his appearances for Australia, New South Wales, the NRL All Stars and NSW Country.

More recently Dugan has been living in Far North Queensland where he is captain-coach of the Ivanhoe Knights in the FNQRL, who finished runners-up in this year’s A-grade competition.

But this week Dugan traded the Steeden for a pigskin and helped steer his gridiron side to a round 1 upset over reigning Reef Bowl champions Townsville.

Townsville Cyclone defensive captain Kyle Reynolds was pinching himself when he found out he was set to play against one of his rugby league heroes.

Ivanhoe's Josh Dugan escapes a tackle in the 2023 FNQRL preliminary final match between the Cairns Brothers and Ivanhoe Knights, held at Barlow Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

“I’ve been a massive Josh Dugan fanboy for his entire career, he’s such a hard defender and a great player,” Reynolds said.

“It’s really good to see that talented players like Josh are coming to our sport.

“I think Cairns should give him the ball more often in attack so I can tackle him and brag about it for the rest of my life.”

Cyclones quarterback Thomas Jeeves was the focus of Dugan’s attention for most of the match while the former Raiders, Dragons and Sharks star also made a number of solid kick returns.

Townsville Cyclones star Tom Jeeves has taken on a role as quarterback for this season. Picture: Evan Morgan

“He had a few really good returns and also played a lot of linebacker,” Reynolds said.

“Our quarterback Thomas Jeeves had an impressive outing, he really controlled the game and put us in positions to score points.

“But he said Dugan hits like a f---ing hammer, as you’d expect from a player of international standard like him.”

Townsville was stunned by the ferocity of the Falcons, finding themselves trailing by 16 points heading into the final term after costly errors hampered the visitors’ attack.

But a touchdown and two-point conversion cut the lead to a one-score game and set up a nailbiting finish as the Cyclones found rookie Jordan Westhoff in the end-zone with the final play of the game.

Needing another two-point conversion to tie the game, Townsville was downed millimetres short of the line, delivering Cairns a famous victory.

Townsville Cyclones players Ryan Worsley, Kyle Reynolds and Leon Suckling ahead of the 2024 Regional Queensland American football season. Worsley is pictured in his Regional Queensland Irukandji representative jersey. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Reynolds said the young team would take a lot of lessons from the defeat.

“It was an eye-opening experience for our rookies. They came into the game a bit doe-eyed but found their feet quickly enough,” Reynolds said.

“We mounted a good fight back in the fourth, coming in we were down 16 points and we ultimately came up a few inches short of levelling the game.

“That’s just the reality of this sport – inches count.”

The Cyclones return home in round 2 to face the Rockhampton Wolverines while the Falcons make the trip to Townsville to play the Mackay Mavericks.

Originally published as ‘Hits like a f---ing hammer’: Ex-NRL star Josh Dugan’s shock code switch